34ft Danish Cutter by adamdt

[adamdt]

This is my first time posting here.  I am currently working on a model of the Harvey that my Grandfather started many years ago but died before he could finish.  He was a very talented engineer who wanted to build it scratch. So, he bought the kit and only left the store with the plans. Soon afterwards they discontinued production.  Luckily I was able to find a kit on e-bay which gives me some hope of finishing it.

 

As an avid sailor, I have my own sailboat but due to career implications I am forced to sell.  So, I have decided that I will attempt to build a model of her. My way of keeping a piece of the little ship that will forever haunt me.  However, no plans exist so I have had to take hundreds of measurements and draw up my own plans.  This will clearly take a long time, probably many years.  The photos here are the begining of the plans and a photo of the boat (not a very good one unfortunatly, my disk with the good photos is packed away).

 

 

[Sailor1234567890]

Adam!!!! Noooo.. Sell? Really? I haven't sailed her yet. And I found her for you, whatever Pauline may say. When will you sell? Any chance of sailing her when I'm there feb-may this year?

Daniel

Edited January 6, 2014 by Sailor1234567890

[adamdt]

Making progress on the plans.  Lots of components such as hatches, sky lights, hand rails, travellers, etc are done.  Lots more components and drawings to go.  Probably 20 more to do.

[Jim Lad]

That looks a very nice yacht, Adam, she'll make a fine model.

 

John

[captainbob]

As John said, “She’ll make a fine model”.  I’ll be glad to wait while you get the measurements.

 

Bob

[adamdt]

Progress slowly continues.  So far not so bad.  I think this may be a success, at least the drawings will be anyway.  The curved lines are not that great but considering they are freehand and I have no experience or training in drafting or anything similar they will be sufficient. 

[Krutzelpuntz]

I'm so happy you decided to build this! It's such a beautiful boat, I'm delighted to get the chance to follow your progress. I have been waiting 

for someone to give the cutter a try

[Sailor1234567890]

Jakob,

Do you know the boat? Or are you just interested in any cutter of that type?

[druxey]

Your drafting looks good, Adam. I'm sorry that you need to sell the real boat, but that is a terrific way to 'keep' her, in a sense. She will make a beautiful model, and her upkeep will be much less expensive than the full-sized thing!

[adamdt]

Work has taken up most of my time lately but I have had a change to get a start on the hull profile.  It is still very rough and missing detail but at least there has been some progress.  Over the next few days I hope to get this drawing finished.  The cabins seem a little large.  This is because they have a curve to them and are higher in the centre.  That isn't very clear in profile unfortunatly. 

Edited March 9, 2014 by adamdt

[michael mott]

Adamdt your drawings look good, I will follow along.

 

Michael

[adamdt]

Progress continues.  My drafting skills leave something to be desired. Freehand curved lines are tough, even harder to keep parallel.  I think the half breadth will be the hardest of the drawings.  Not really sure how I am going to approach that but that is far off in the future.  I think I may start the standing rigging drawing next, followed by running rigging, then sail plan. 

[Twister]

You really have taken on an amazing project - I'm especially impressed with your renderings to date. If my freehand skills were just 10% of yours I'd be a happy man indeed...

 

Out of interest do you know much about the history of your yacht? She appears to have a bit of a Colin Archer look about her. 'Tis always sad to give up a beautiful yacht owing to time pressures - could you not just lay her up in a worm free mud birth?

 

Keep up the great work,

 

Row

[Mark Pearse]

Yes, like a Colin Archer but with a transom, really lovely. I look forward to seeing what unfolds.

[hexnut]

This looks like a great project, very nice work.  If you want to save a lot of time, I might suggest a basic set of ship's curves like these:

http://www.usartsupply.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=CTH+SC-66&gclid=CMmHu4-njb0CFQ2hOgod6CoAdw

 

Or you could go "old school" and use a long, narrow strip of wood, plot points where you need the curve and run the wood through the points, holding it down with some desk weights. I believe Michael Mott made a beautiful set of these, referred to as "ducks" (as in--"ducks in a row"), but bench blocks or small cans filled w/ fishing sinkers will do in a pinch.

 

If you haven't done so already, getting all of your measurements into an Excel spreadsheet will also be an immense time-saver down the road, especially when doing station offsets.

[adamdt]

She does have some aspects in common with Colin Archer boats.  Narhval's lines are based on Danish work/fishing vessels of the late 1800s, so the similarities make sense.  Narhval was built in 1958 in Copenhagen.  The builder built primarily fishing boat and decided to try his hand at pleasure boats.  He built 2, didn't make enough money and stopped there.  Now, only one remains.  She sailed around the world in the 70's.  I have been in touch with one of the crew from that voyage and he sent me some photos in the South Pacific.  After that she was liad up in Hawaii for a while where the previous owners bought her.  After a 12 year rebuild between 1985-92 they sailed her extensivly in the Pacific Northwest until 3 years ago when I purchased her.  Hull speed of 6.5kts and slow to come about, however, she handles a good breeze and sea with ease and can hold a course with the helm lashed down.  Beautiful boat to have the privlidge of sailing. 

[Sailor1234567890]

Yes, I'm looking forward to that privilege Adam. Since I spotted her for sale for you and all.....

[adamdt]

After a couple of years with no progress I have finally been able to work on the drawings once again. Still some fine tuning to do but at least I have more to show and the lines are starting to take shape.

[adamdt]

[druxey]

Welcome back, Adam! I've just come across your log. Those are pretty impressive freehand curves but, as someone else mentioned, a flexible curve may ease your job.

[Mark Pearse]

lovely lines Adam, but maybe check the keel thickness, it looks very thin.

best, Mark

[adamdt]

Mark, agreed. The keel and the stem do look thin. I am trying to do most of this from memory as well.

[adamdt]

There is something about freehand that I enjoy. I can't really explain in. I'm sure a flexible curve would be quicker and more accurate but I just think I can't get the real feel for the curves.

[adamdt]

Slowly making some progress. Starting the transom now. I will do spars and sailplan next.

[adamdt]

Coming together.

[Mark Pearse]

looks great Adam, 

 

Mark

[adamdt]

Spars and sail plan next. however, I think I need to check the dimensions of the transom

Edited October 8, 2016 by adamdt

[adamdt]

Strange, the transom still looks too small but I have double checked all measurements and ratios as well as compared it to plans of a similar vessel and it all checks out. Maybe it is an illusion because of the 2 dimensional drawings.

[Sailor1234567890]

Looking good Adam. Too bad you had to sell her. This model will be a suitable memorial to her memory. Did I tell you I have plans for my 1:1 ratio schooner now? They arrived in the mail this week. I can't spend enough time poring over them lately. Kathy's going to divorce me if I don't spend more time with her than these drawing soon. 

Cheers.

[adamdt]

After many years of delay some progress has been made, I have a rough cut profile and some rough templates for the bulkheads. to see how the shape will look and if I need to refine the lines.